The Royal Entomological Society

Registered charity 213620 · since 1962royensoc.co.uk·International, United Kingdom·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

£30,000

Annual giving, year to 28 February 2026

From filed accounts

12 weeks

Typical decision time

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.

Key takeaways

The Society's grants suit insect science research, public understanding of insects, widening participation in entomology, and postgraduate entomology teaching.
Most of its named programmes top out at £3,000 or £500, so a modest request fits, while its Higher Education Bursaries go up to £30,000.
The Society says it does not accept unsolicited requests, so contact it before preparing a full application.
Higher Education Bursary applications, submitted by course leaders at eligible UK or ROI institutions, open on 1 April and close on 15 May, and decisions take about 12 weeks ("within three months").
Organisations, overheads, tuition, conference attendance and publication costs are excluded from Small Project Grants, individual students and institutions outside the UK or ROI from bursaries, and anyone who received a Small Project grant in the last two years should not apply for another.

Overview

The Royal Entomological Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 213620).

The Royal Entomological Society is a registered charity (charity number 213620) that exists to advance and support insect science for the benefit of nature and people, uniting a global community to share, generate and preserve knowledge. Its grants, awards and bursaries empower the entomological community to improve and communicate insect science. Small project grants go up to £3,000 for work focused on insect science, while Higher Education Bursaries fund up to £30,000 over three years. The annual report shows £30,000 paid out in its most recent financial year.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The Society’s awards and grants support insect science and the entomological community through research, public understanding, outreach and participation. Small Project Grants support high-quality, innovative, standalone entomological research, prioritising work that advances insect science to an international and publishable standard; public engagement, economics or policy objectives may be included when integrated into the scientific aims. The Goodman Fund supports public understanding and appreciation of insect science, while EDI grants aim to widen participation. Higher Education Bursaries are awarded to institutions to support postgraduate students in entomology, with institutions determining how the funds are distributed. Other support includes student outreach and conference participation.

Themes

Insect science research
Public understanding
Entomology EDI
Student outreach
Postgraduate entomology

Geographic Focus

Worldwide; UK; ROI.

What they don't fund

Small Project Grants only:
- organisations
- Overheads
- Salary supplementation
- Tuition, course fees, or scholarships
- Total equipment costs over £1,000
- Projects forming part of undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. However, funding for PhD or DPhil students who only have their salary or stipend covered will be considered
- Projects linked to existing fellowships
- Applications to take part in an expedition will not be considered. However, applications for a standalone research project which takes place during an expedition will be considered
- Conference attendance
- Publication costs
- A project that is a component of a wider study or research programme that is already funded
- Associate Members
- Applicants who have received a RES Small Project grant within the last two years
- Projects previously rejected
Higher Education Bursaries only:
- individual students
- Institutions based outside the UK or ROI
- Courses with less than 33% entomology content
- Successful applicants may not apply for additional HE Bursaries to run concurrently

How to apply

Course leaders at eligible higher-education institutions submit the Higher Education Bursary Application Form; the Society’s trustees adjudicate applications.

Application windows:

Higher Education Bursaries: Opens 1 April and closes 15 May.

Who can apply:

Higher Education Bursaries
- Applications are open to course leaders at UK (Level 7) and ROI (NFQ Level 9) Higher Education institutions offering courses such as MA, MSc and MRes. The course must contain 33% entomology content or more.
- Applicants must be Course Leaders or similarly senior staff acting on behalf of their employer at a Higher Education Institute in the UK or Republic of Ireland.

What to send:

Small Project Grants
- Two referees’ details on the form.
- Referee details for two current or recent employers, supervisors, or line managers.
Higher Education Bursaries
- A detailed description of the entomological content covered in the course, including module titles, topics, contact hours, and modes of teaching.
- A detailed budget breakdown.

Applying again: Higher Education Bursaries: Previously unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply. Successful applicants may not apply for additional HE Bursaries to run concurrently.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

The institution should demonstrate academic quality and relevance, including the depth and breadth of entomological content.
The institution should set out how it will measure short- and long-term impact on students and the institution.
The institution should explain how it will communicate bursary outcomes and successes to the Society and the wider entomological community.
The application should include a detailed budget aligned with its aims and eligible course costs.
The institution should show commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in distributing the bursaries.
The institution should demonstrate commitment to developing a long-term relationship with the Society.
Awardees are expected to provide a short report on the bursary in a format that suits them.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

United Kingdom
International

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to The Royal Entomological Society.

The British Ecological SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £576k Biochemical SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £133k The Linnean Society of LondonFixed deadlines Royal Geographical SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £138k British Society for Antimicrobial ChemotherapyInvitation onlyGave £19,977 International Dendrology SocietyRollingGave £25,236 British Society for NeuroendocrinologyMixed deadlinesGave £54,566 The Company of BiologistsMixed deadlinesGave £1000k Paul and Louise Cooke EndowmentRollingGave £5,500 British Mycological SocietyMixed deadlinesGave £67,609

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 28 February 2022	£1,207,380	£1,086,198	£12,250	Accounts for year to 28 February 2022
year to 28 February 2023	£1,581,695	£1,499,602	£127,800	Accounts for year to 28 February 2023
year to 29 February 2024	£1,654,409	£1,776,908	£12,000	Accounts for year to 29 February 2024
year to 28 February 2025	£1,538,653	£1,666,510	£20,000	Accounts for year to 28 February 2025
year to 28 February 2026	£1,591,270	£2,156,922	£30,000	Accounts for year to 28 February 2026

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2022

£12,250 grants

YE 2023

£128k grants

YE 2024

£12,000 grants

YE 2025

£20,000 grants

YE 2026

£30,000 paid

Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 28 February 2022; year to 28 February 2023; year to 29 February 2024; year to 28 February 2025: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Grants paid, year to 28 February 2026: grants paid out in the year.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.